Kashmir: Chidambaram says when people ask for 'azadi', they seek autonomy, BJP criticises comment

Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday said that when most people of Kashmir seek azadi, they mean autonomy . The government must examine the autonomy demand, he said at an event in Mumbai.

The state will remain a part of India but will have “larger powers as promised under Article 370 of the Constitution,” Chidambaram said.

His statement was criticised by members of the government. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted that it was time for freedom from the Congress.

Chidambaram described the appointment of an interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir as a “diversionary” tactic, in an



interview to The Wire .

Former Intelligence Bureau Director Dineshwar Sharma was appointed on October 23 to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of the state, political parties, different organisations and residents of the state. Chidambaram said that this move was only meant to appease a section of people who were asking why the government was not holding talks.

“The appointment of the interlocutor should not lead us to think that there is a change of heart of the government.” He said, adding that he believes the government will continue to hold on to its “muscular policy and military solution” in Jammu and Kashmir.